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A panel featuring some of cricket’s most respected players, captains and commentators ranked the greatest performers of the modern era, naming the finest batter, bowler, all-rounder and overall cricketer from 2000 to 2025.

Twenty-five years may be a relatively short period in history, but in cricket, the years between 2000 and 2025 represent one of the sport’s most transformative eras.This was a period defined by the rise of T20 cricket, the emergence of global franchise leagues and a reimagining of how the game is played. Batters expanded the boundaries of scoring, bowlers developed new methods of survival and success, and technology reshaped preparation and analysis. Yet despite all the innovation, the qualities that define greatness remained remarkably consistent.Seeking to identify the players who best embodied those qualities, ESPNcricinfo conducted an extensive exercise to rank the greatest cricketers of the 21st century. The project evaluated performances across international cricket from 2000 to 2025 and brought together some of the game’s most accomplished minds to determine the standout players of the modern era.

Key Results

Greatest Men’s International Cricketer

Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

Greatest Men’s Batter

Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Greatest Men’s Bowler

Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka)

Greatest Women’s Cricketer

Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Greatest Men’s T20 Batter

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Greatest Men’s T20 Bowler

Jasprit Bumrah (India)

How the Rankings Were Decided

The rankings were produced through a multi-stage selection process.

ESPNcricinfo first assembled a longlist of more than 70 players, taking into account statistical achievements and the significance of their contributions to the game. Following an extensive editorial review, that list was narrowed to 30 names.

A distinguished 25-member jury was then tasked with selecting and ranking their top 25 men’s international cricketers. The panel included former players, captains, coaches and broadcasters from across the cricketing world, including Wasim Akram, Greg Chappell, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Shastri, Daniel Vettori and Shane Watson.

The publication also conducted a separate exercise to identify the greatest women’s cricketer of the century, while a dedicated 15-member jury voted on the greatest men’s T20 batter and bowler.

The Top 25 Men’s International Cricketers of the 21st Century

Rank	Player
1	Jacques Kallis
2	Sachin Tendulkar
3	Virat Kohli
4	Muttiah Muralidaran
5	Ricky Ponting
6	AB de Villiers
7	Kumar Sangakkara
8	Dale Steyn
9	Joe Root
10	Steven Smith
11	Adam Gilchrist
12	Rahul Dravid
13	James Anderson
14	MS Dhoni
15	Jasprit Bumrah
16	Kane Williamson
17	Mitchell Starc
18	Chris Gayle
19	Ben Stokes
20	Pat Cummins
21	Mahela Jayawardene
22	Virender Sehwag
23	Kevin Pietersen
24	Stuart Broad
25	R Ashwin

Why the Top Ranking Matters

At the summit of the rankings sits Jacques Kallis, whose rare combination of elite batting and world-class seam bowling made him one of the most complete cricketers the sport has ever seen.

His selection ahead of names such as Tendulkar, Kohli, Muralidaran and Ponting reflects the value placed on all-round excellence by the jury. In an era increasingly dominated by specialists, Kallis’ ability to influence matches in multiple disciplines proved decisive.

Just behind him, Tendulkar’s second-place finish reinforced his status as the defining batter of a generation. Kohli’s third-place ranking highlighted his dominance in the modern game, while Muralidaran’s place in fourth acknowledged the enduring impact of one of cricket’s most prolific wicket-takers. Ponting rounded out the top five after a career marked by extraordinary consistency and leadership.

Recognition Across the Game

The rankings were not limited to men’s international cricket.

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry was named the greatest women’s cricketer of the 21st century, recognition of a career that has coincided with the growth of women’s cricket into a truly global sport.

Meanwhile, the increasing influence of T20 cricket prompted a separate assessment of excellence in the format. South Africa’s AB de Villiers was voted the greatest men’s T20 batter, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah earned recognition as the greatest men’s T20 bowler.

A Defining Quarter-Century

The ESPNcricinfo rankings offer more than a list of names. They provide a snapshot of a remarkable period in cricket history.

Over the past 25 years, the sport has evolved at a pace few could have imagined. Formats have diversified, audiences have expanded and new generations of stars have emerged. Yet the players who rose to the top of these rankings shared the same qualities that have always separated the exceptional from the merely talented.

As cricket continues to change, these rankings serve as a reminder that while the game may evolve, greatness remains timeless.